I dont see anything wrong with how Wiggins and Sky have played this out...these guys are here to win. They are not here to provide an entertaining race...that is the job of the race organisers...so if you think the race is boring that because of the course, not the racers.

Sky has just absolutley dominated this race...its that simple. Look at what happened last night...there were attacks from everywhere...and nothing even came close to disrupting either Wiggins or Froome...and then they attacked and they rode away. Their level is way beyond everybody else at this race.

I read somewhere the organisers plan was to have a long ITT early in the tour to force the climbers to ride aggressively in the mountains to regain time and then gain time against the TT specalists before the final TT...only thing that didnt work was that the TT specalists have been the strongest climbers and so havnt had to do anything more that just follow wheels in the mountains. Carnt imagine the organisers will make the same mistake again

maybe after the second time trail everyone was like there is no point of attacking to win anymore because they all had pull back at least 56 mins off the sky riders. They were attacking for the podium. IMHO this tour de france was the worst race I have seen. Im expecting that it is going to be a good tour de france next year. lots of famous mtn climbs. Andy schleck, Contador, Evans, levi will come back. and we will see brad wiggins handover the rightful leadership to froome (unless he goes to another team). If thats the case then brad wiggins wont have any chance to defend his yellow jersey

Compared to 2011 where Schleck went off 2 mountains out only to have Cadel slowly reel him in. The last mountain stage had Contador attacking. Cadel had to make time up in the last time trial to win and could only do this because he limited his losses on the mountains. Plenty of heroics last year.

There could have been more mountain top finishes but to be fair to the organisers this tour has to alarge extent been neutralised by a team that is much stronger on the climbs than any other. They have recuited well, prepared, planned and executed their strategy well. The result has neutalised the race unfortunately.The other teams will have to lift their game for next year, particularly given the climbing and tt ability of Froome.

Compared to 2011 where Schleck went off 2 mountains out only to have Cadel slowly reel him in. The last mountain stage had Contador attacking. Cadel had to make time up in the last time trial to win and could only do this because he limited his losses on the mountains. Plenty of heroics last year.

Parrott wrote:There could have been more mountain top finishes but to be fair to the organisers this tour has to alarge extent been neutralised by a team that is much stronger on the climbs than any other. They have recuited well, prepared, planned and executed their strategy well. The result has neutalised the race unfortunately.The other teams will have to lift their game for next year, particularly given the climbing and tt ability of Froome.

Yes, it's not often that the domestique is stronger than the team leader who is wearing yellow.

Parrott wrote:There could have been more mountain top finishes but to be fair to the organisers this tour has to alarge extent been neutralised by a team that is much stronger on the climbs than any other. They have recuited well, prepared, planned and executed their strategy well. The result has neutalised the race unfortunately.The other teams will have to lift their game for next year, particularly given the climbing and tt ability of Froome.

Yes, it's not often that the domestique is stronger than the team leader who is wearing yellow.

Taking this trend to its logical conclusion,my tip for the 2016 tour is Richard Branson.

Cadel is as slow as a wet weekend. Nibali isn't really all there. And there isn't another first class climber in the peleton.I think Wiggins/Froome would win stages if they were actually forced to ride hard. Currently they don't have to do anything to win, and thats the safest bet.

maryusdemetry wrote:Cadel is as slow as a wet weekend. Nibali isn't really all there. And there isn't another first class climber in the peleton.I think Wiggins/Froome would win stages if they were actually forced to ride hard. Currently they don't have to do anything to win, and thats the safest bet.

Ivan Basso thinks Sky are going pretty hard on the climbs, and he's no slouch.

“Look. It’s the same discussion as always, it’s like watching the Tour when Lance [Armstrong] or [Miguel] Indurain raced. You could try to attack, get ahead, but then what are you going to do? Just to have a laugh?” Basso said, sitting on the steps of the team bus.

“If he [Wiggins] goes as they have been, where Richie Porte is pulling and you are on the wheel pushing 420 watts, then explain to me, where are you going to go?

Very impressive finish and a great reward for being an unselfish teammate. 22 stage wins at the Tour now equalling the record for sprinters, not bad Calls that the sun had set on the OSW were a tad premature

Stage 18 - Nice leadout from Bradley Wiggins and also from Edvald Boasson Hagen, who dragged Mark Cavendish up to the final stage of the Sprint. Mark Cavendish jumped early, which was a smart move, and got him the deserved win.Peter Sagan made an error, moving off Cavendish's wheel (on the turn) in this sprint and being on the wrong side of the road. Probably just happy with his Green Jersey. Still it was good to see the W.C. Cavendish get involved in the Tour, and Sprint.Another lackluster day for G.C. and it would seem, with another boring T.T. to come,not much more to see, in this years Tour.Cheers

Lone Rider- I rode on the long, dark road... before I danced under the lights.

maryusdemetry wrote:Cadel is as slow as a wet weekend. Nibali isn't really all there. And there isn't another first class climber in the peleton.I think Wiggins/Froome would win stages if they were actually forced to ride hard. Currently they don't have to do anything to win, and thats the safest bet.

You might wanna have a look at the team around him, before hanging crap on him. He is still better than 99% of the wanna be arm chair critics here and add to that his age, so before you hang crap on him, stop and think!

Foo

I don't suffer fools easily and so long as you have done your best,you should have no regrets.Goal 6000km

maryusdemetry wrote:Cadel is as slow as a wet weekend. Nibali isn't really all there. And there isn't another first class climber in the peleton.I think Wiggins/Froome would win stages if they were actually forced to ride hard. Currently they don't have to do anything to win, and thats the safest bet.

You might wanna have a look at the team around him, before hanging crap on him. He is still better than 99% of the wanna be arm chair critics here and add to that his age, so before you hang crap on him, stop and think!

Foo

Everyone saying about Cadels age being against him, I dont think it is, granted he has had a bad year (not just tour) but I still think he has a few good years in him. Look at Chris Horner this year at 40 probably up there with his best ever tour. Dont count Cadel out yet, he will be back stronger (or as strong) than ever.

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